Winemakers set to run visitor centre

The Clare Valley Winemakers group has received in-principle approval to be the new leaseholder of the local visitor information centre.

The Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council began looking for new operators last July, as it could no longer afford to run the centre.

The council's CEO, Roy Blight, says the financial details of the arrangement still need to be worked out but the deal should be finalised within the next six months.

"The business model that's been put forward by the Clare Valley Winemakers includes a contribution from council and obviously that's an area we need to do further work on and to finetune the proposal, " he said.

"[Clare Valley Winemakers chairman] Neil [Paulett] did make it clear in his presentation to council in December, that this was a preliminary budget proposal from the winemakers and it did need further work."

Mr Blight says the group will be contracted to run the centre for the next five years and should officially begin in the role later this year.

"The Clare Valley Winemakers are looking to develop the centre and promote the region in a broader sense," he said.

"They've been strongly supported with their proposal by the Clare Valley Business and Tourism Association and the association wrote to council saying they were certainly behind the winemakers' proposal and fully endorsed it."